think of a strategy to improve her own life, she thought grimly.
A few days later Kate drove to collect Joanna for the Easter vacation.
‘I’m dying to get out of my uniform,’ said Jo, as they left the school car park. ‘Are we having lunch on the way?’
‘Would I expect you to survive if we didn’t?’ Kate teased. ‘But not the posh hotel today; you can make do with a burger somewhere.’
‘Cool! We don’t get burgers in school.’
‘At those fees I should hope not.’ Kate glanced sideways to see a worried frown on Jo’s face. ‘What’s up?’
The dark eyes gazed at her anxiously. ‘I know it’s terribly expensive to keep me there. Can you really afford it?’
‘I don’t have to, love. When you were a baby Robert took out an education insurance which covered your fees right up until you leave the place.’ Kate patted her hand. ‘There may be a few extras along the way due to cost of living and school trips and so on, but I can cope with that.’
‘Can’t you take the extras out of my money?’
‘If it was absolutely necessary I could, but it’s not, so chill, OK?’
Joanna Sutton was at the stage where she was an adult one minute and a child the next, but the child predominated as she raced through the rooms in Park Crescent, exclaiming in delight as she went.
‘My room looks great! And I love the sitting room now it’s furnished. Is that the paint colour I picked?’
‘It certainly is. Your Coral Porcelain turned out well.’
Jo gazed round the room in approval, then turned a determined glance on Kate. ‘I’ve got something to say.’ She paused and took a deep breath. ‘The thing is, I should have said it ages ago.’
‘Spit it out, then,’ said Kate in alarm. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing. I just want to say thank you,’ blurted Jo. ‘For taking me on, I mean.’
‘Oh, Joanna! No thanks necessary,’ Kate assured her, weak with relief. ‘I’m only too happy to “take you on”.’
‘You really mean that? I’ve been worried. You know, because you gave up your job and sold your flat and—’
‘Hey! Let’s get something straight here. I was about to resign from my job anyway. And I sold the flat because I inherited this house.’
‘But you only came to live in it because I didn’t want to stay in London after Mum and Dad died,’ Jo reminded her.
‘True,’ Kate agreed and smiled into the anxious elfin face. ‘But it was no sacrifice. I love the house and, though I’m sorry for the tragic circumstances that made it necessary, it’s a great big bonus to have you sharing it with me. OK?’
‘OK.’ Joanna heaved a heartfelt sigh of relief.
‘Right. Now you’ve got that off your chest ring Grandma and tell her you’re home.’
Jo made her call, and reported that her grandparents were looking forward to her visit. ‘I’ll try not to wear them out,’ she added, grinning.
‘Good. We’re having supper with Anna and Ben tonight, by the way.’
Jo beamed. ‘Great! Is Anna OK?’
‘Blooming. She’s dying to see you. Pop upstairs for a bath while I unpack for you.’
‘I’m supposed to do it myself,’ Jo said, pulling a face.
Kate tapped her nose. ‘I won’t tell if you won’t! Now go.’
A minute later there was a scream of delight from upstairs and Jo came hurtling into the kitchen in her briefs and the unnecessary minuscule bra she’d asked for because all her friends had one.
‘The cropped jeans and stripy top in the wardrobe,’ she panted, ‘I just love them, Kate—thanks. Can I wear them tonight?’
‘That was my plan. Now scoot.’
Jo tore back upstairs and returned later, the gleaming hair brushed, her slender, long-legged body graceful in denims and pink and lavender top. ‘Well?’ she demanded, doing a twirl. ‘Do I look cool or what?’
Kate blinked at the transformation from schoolgirl into something else entirely. ‘I don’t know about cool, but you certainly look grown up,’ she said with misgiving.
Jo punched the air in delight, then stopped, the joy suddenly draining from her face.
‘What now?’
‘I forgot for a minute,’ she whispered guiltily.
‘And so you should,’ said Kate with emphasis. ‘Your mother and father would want that.’
‘I hope so. Because I’m much better lately. I hardly cry at all. Do you?’
Kate shook her head. ‘Elizabeth disapproved of tears.’
‘I know! When I fell down when I was little she used to dust me off and tell me to stop making a fuss.’ Jo’s mouth drooped. ‘But I wouldn’t like her to think I didn’t grieve for